The iconic Italian vocalist Fabio Lione , known for his work in bands such as Labyrinth , Athena , Vision Divine , Rhapsody of Fire (formerly Rhapsody ), and Eternal Idol , and current frontman of Angra , is on a solo tour presenting the acclaimed album Symphony of Enchanted Lands in its entirety.
On May 8th, the singer performed at the Ney Soares Theater in Belo Horizonte (MG), accompanied by a band, orchestra, and choir. The opening act was the band Dogma , which had already won over the audience at Bangers Open Air .
The theater doors were supposed to open at 6:30 PM, but access wasn't granted until around 7 PM. Despite the slight delay, the audience remained enthusiastic while waiting. At 8 PM, the lights went out, and the members of Dogma took the stage, starting the show with the energetic "Forbidden Zone," performed with the precision and talent characteristic of the band.
Dogma's performance was very well received, especially their powerful cover of Madonna ," which drew enthusiastic applause from the audience. After the band's set, the orchestra and choir musicians took their places on stage. At 9:10 PM, the epic introduction of "Epicus Furor" echoed through the theater, followed by the classic "Emerald Sword," which drove the audience wild.
Among the most exciting moments of the night were the ballad "Wings of Destiny," in which Lione showcased his incredible vocal range, and the title track "Symphony of Enchanted Lands," where he once again proved his technical and interpretive mastery.
After performing the album in its entirety, Lione revisited other Rhapsody classics, such as "Land of Immortals" and "The Wizard's Last Rhymes" (from the album Legendary Tales ), as well as the hit "Dawn of Victory," which shares its name with the 2000 album.
Reason for leaving Labyrinth
One of the most memorable moments of the night was when the vocalist shared the reason for his departure from Labyrinth. He recalled that, during a dinner, a band member made a racist comment, and he, not condoning such behavior, decided to leave the group. Lione recounted that he stayed away from the stage for a while until his then-girlfriend, Ingrid , encouraged him to take opera singing lessons with a teacher named Bruce (jokingly adding: "no, not Dickinson !"). Upon mentioning this, a fan in the audience shouted: "Thank you, Ingrid!", eliciting laughter from the crowd. Following this, Lione treated everyone to an a cappella opera performance, demonstrating his full power and technique.
In short, Fabio Lione's solo tour is unmissable, worth every penny – especially for fans who have the opportunity to see the show with Dogma as the opening act. A true celebration of symphonic metal and the talent of one of the greatest vocalists on the current scene.
Check out some videos from the night:
